Loretta Lynn, known as one of the first ladies of country music, is on tour celebrating the re-release of her autobiography and, on Saturday, June 18, she will grace the Bell Auditorium stage with her

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Lynn’s arrival on the country music scene with her debut single, “Honky Tonk Girl;” other memorable hits by Lynn include “Wine, Women and Song,” “You Ain’t Woman Enough to Take My Man,” “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ On Your Mind)” and the 1970 song that inspired the biographical movie, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”

Beth Burger of Aiken remembers her first – and only – time seeing Lynn in concert. It was in the 1980s and she and her mother, Mary Regan, saw Lynn perform with Conway Twitty, another country music legend, in Augusta.
Regan was born in Harlan, Ky., just hours away from where Lynn was born and raised in the town of Butcher Hollow. Both were the daughters of coal miners.

“She (my mother) can relate to a lot of the songs Loretta has written,” said Burger. “Just growing up and having the music played over and over in the house ever since I can remember as a child, and then to go and actually see her and Conway live … it was an awesome experience.”

Now, more than 20 years later, they’ll be at it again and this time, said Burger, it will be much more special for both Burger and her mother.

“I think it will be more meaningful this time, just because of the age where my mother is at,” Burger said. “And just knowing that having my sister there and myself is going to be probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us because, at Loretta’s age, I know she’s not going to be around much longer, either. My mother and I are looking so forward to the concert. I think it just brings back a lot of memories of home for her, knowing that she can relate to someone that closely that has lived that life,” said Burger.

In a press release, Lynn demonstrated the humility she has possessed throughout her five decade career.

“I ain’t a star – a star is something up in the night sky,” said Lynn. “People say to me, ‘You’re a legend.’ I’m not a legend. I’m just a woman.”

Tickets to the concert are $37.50 and can be purchased at the Champion’s box office at the James Brown Arena, online at georgialinatix.com or by phone at (877) 428-4849.